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Cocktail bar aiming to add spice to Cumbrian town's nightlife

Whitehaven's nightlife will get an eagerly awaited boost this weekend when a new cocktail bar opens in the town.

Ryan Walker

Manhattans Wine and Cocktail Bar, situated on the middle floor of the former Gallachers nightclub building, was bought by a family of 13 when it went up for auction in October.

It was Dawn Hill-Eades’ winning bid that secured the deal and since then the family have been working around the clock to transform the building.

If all goes to plan, the family will open the cocktail bar on Saturday and plan to open the former Cellar Bar, on the bottom floor of the building and launch a nightclub on the top floor in the near future.

Mrs Hill-Eades’ nephew Ryan Walker said: “We don’t have the time at the moment to refurbish the whole building – we just want to get something open as soon as possible.

“People have been so positive about the opening. Everyone wants alternative places to go to in Whitehaven and we are all really looking forward to the opening.”

The news that the cocktail bar will open has been warmly welcomed.

The bar’s Facebook page has been bombarded with well-wishers, as well as people asking about jobs.

Glen Beecroft said: “About time something’s getting opened in Whitehaven that isn’t a pound shop or block of flats.”

Angela Johnston said: “Good luck guys and gals. Hope it goes well.”

The new bar will serve wine, cocktails, coffee and real ales and will be open until 2am on Friday and Saturday and 1am on Thursday and Sunday.

Gallachers was the only nightclub in town when it closed a year ago after it went into administration.

When the building went to auction it had a guide price of £80,000 to £100,000 and after a three-way bidding battle it sold for £134,000.

Auctioneer Colin West said it was a “fantastic result” for the club because the commercial market at the moment was “very difficult”.

Mrs Hill-Eades also owns the Rosehill House residential home, near Whitehaven and her daughter owns the next-door Busy Bees day nursery.